Letters to the Editor

Published 10:00 pm, Wednesday, May 25, 2005

HORSEY CARTOON

Another contribution to P-I's hate campaign As a veteran serving through three wars plus the Cold War, I can't let David Horsey's Tuesday cartoon go without comment. It is the most despicable piece of journalism I have ever seen, but I realize that it's only another in the P-I's hate campaign against, not only the military, but the president, the Iraq war and even the United States, the eventual goal being the mediocrity of socialism.

I wonder what kind of hate Horsey will come up with when most of the nation will be observing Memorial Day next week. After more than 30 years as a subscriber, I can't take it any longer and am canceling my subscription.

Consider administration supporting prison abuse Regarding Bob Wickwire's letter of yesterday ("Publication of cartoon never should've happened"), I have to ask Wickwire what is worse: David Horsey's constitutionally protected free speech or the policies ordered, condoned and supported by the highest levels of the Bush administration being lampooned?

Which is truly treasonous?

Don DeWeeseSeattle

Drawing filled with rant, hatred and delusion How can the P-I expect to be taken seriously with the likes of David Horsey on its staff? His Tuesday cartoon demonstrates yet again that the guy lives in a world of rant, hatred and delusion.

Seditious cartoon stirs up more anti-Americanism Tuesday's editorial cartoon by David Horsey, depicting an Army corporal bemoaning Newsweek's coverage of the Quran flushing incident while another tortured-to-death "raghead" Muslim is shown being dragged away by more Army thugs, is way over the top.

Are we to conclude that Horsey and the P-I are unmoved by the deaths of 17 or more innocent people as a direct result of Newsweek's false report on the alleged Quran desecration? One wonders just how many additional deaths will now occur as al-Jazeera exploits this seditious cartoon to stir up more anti-American hatred.

The saddest part is that just as the Newsweek article rapidly made its way to our volunteers in Iraq and Afghanistan, who by their sacrifice and service make it possible for the likes of Horsey to undermine their morale while providing aid and comfort to the enemy, this cartoon will be gleefully e-mailed to our military men and women in harm's way by those P-I readers who argue they support the troops but can't wait to jump on any occasion to bash the president and condemn the war.

Al-Qaida could not have done a more damaging job to the United States' image and our troops' morale. Is it any wonder the U.S. military believes mainstream media are highly biased against them?

Drawing reminds reader that government directs recruiters Kudos for David Horsey's Tuesday cartoon depicting the U.S. military intelligence interrogation unit.

The cartoon reminds me of the No Child Left Behind Act that allocates money to public schools for private information given to military recruiters (another form of military abuse allowed by the U.S. government, signed into law by George W. Bush).

If parents want this information withheld from the military, they need to send a letter to their student's school stating such.

I did not do this, because I did not read all of the paperwork my student brought home from school at the beginning of the year, and they have been calling my home phone number trying to reach my graduating senior.

Troops pick up the tab for Horsey's right to jab It is probably true that David Horsey's cartoons are intended to provoke discussion, so here is some discussion.

I think the man is a treasonous, lying, left-wing hate monger who is consistently anti-military and anti-American. In a time of war he suggests our military is purposely torturing and killing suspects. Does it occur to him that those kinds of pronouncements can kill our troops?

Newsweek thought it could carelessly throw around statements and never have to prove any of them; people died for those, also. There are consequences for Horsey's free speech and the U.S. military is paying the tab while Horsey sits in his air-conditioned office high-fiving his liberal buddies and hoping for a U.S. military failure in Iraq so that the Democratic Party can claim the high ground and maybe win an election.

How pathetic that Horsey doesn't know the difference between Jane Fonda-type treason and legitimate disagreement.

Republicans come out smelling like roses Regarding the Senate filibuster deal, I'm really trying to understand how the P-I arrives at the conclusion, "If one were to score the confrontation's result as if it were a sporting match, the Democrats won" (yesterday's editorial).

Senate Democrats asserted that Judges Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown and William Pryor Jr. were the worst kind of extremists. The three judges mentioned were specifically singled out by high-profile liberal groups as the most egregious examples of judicial activism.

The net result of the compromise is that the Republicans get a floor vote (and confirmation) for the three. And because the Democrats have agreed that the filibuster will now be used only in "extraordinary circumstances," one can only assume that the remaining appointees (not as controversial as Owen, Brown and Pryor) will also get a floor vote and confirmation.

The GOP gets its nominees confirmed, and the Democrats have a much higher threshold for using the filibuster.

In the end, the Democrats left the room losing the fight on judges and having less procedural power than when they entered. The Republicans got exactly the judges they wanted and the added benefit of further weakening the Democrats' ability to filibuster.

Which side won here?

Brian WhiteSeattle

GASOLINE TAX

Even 'bloated bureaucracy' would drive on better roads I'm so tired of the cheap shots directed at state and local governments. The latest example, in the May 18 letters, asserts that the new gasoline tax will be used to support a "bloated bureaucracy" and "certainly not (go) into our roads." What evidence does the writer use to support these accusations? None. Just more cheap, right-wing radio nonsense.

I suggest the writer visit Los Angeles, where I drove around last week, or other metropolitan areas. I think he'd soon realize that our roads are maintained at a much higher level than in other cities. This level of maintenance reduces the wear and tear on cars, buses and trucks, saving hundreds of dollars in repair fees.

I don't like the regressive nature of gasoline taxes, which hit the poor and working class much harder than the rich. But don't think for a second that the money is going into a black pothole. I've seen the difference in road quality firsthand.

Bill WoodsSeattle

PAY INCREASE

Legislators far removed from people they work for How fortunate the legislators (our employees) just received a 3 percent pay increase. Just in time to help them defray the highest tax increase in Washington state history. I wonder how the people on a fixed income and the working poor are going to cope.

Dave DawsonEverett

No. 1 THREAT

Administration seems to be working against us Eco-terrorism, aided by "mainstream activists," is the top domestic threat in the nation? Wow, and here I was worrying about a presidential administration that has made our country the global Enemy No. 1, thus making every living and breathing organism in the United States vulnerable to a terrorist attack. Silly, silly me.

As a "mainstream activist," I guess my colleagues and I better change our ways and stop trying to find ways to ensure a healthy planet for our children. I'd hate to put my fellow Americans at risk.

Jill WasbergSeattle

UNIONS

Members want it both ways: High wages and cheap cost This is regarding Alaska Airlines laying off union baggage handlers.

Wake up, unions! One hundred years ago you had an important mission. Your success in raising the workers' standards has worked, unfortunately, too well. Use common sense.

You want to buy clothes that are made by cheap labor; however you want to be paid high wages for doing the same kind of work here in the United States. Looks like the immediate solution is to accept the lower wage or find a vocation that uses special skills and has less competition. It's a free country, but you can't have it both ways.